A grandmother looks at 'springing into Easter'

Tuesday

Mar 13, 2012 at 12:01 AMMar 13, 2012 at 1:19 PM

It’s been a great winter season so far with almost no snow in this area, at least until recently.

Pamela McLaughlin

It’s been a great winter season so far with almost no snow in this area, at least until recently. It makes life so much easier since I use a wheelchair. Even the dog sled races in New Hampshire were canceled this year because of the lack of snow. My 8-year-old grandson, Jesse, was disappointed.

He mentioned to me “Nana, I want to make a snowman!” During February when Jesse had his school vacation from St. Charles, he and his mom flew to Florida for 10 days. They attended a family wedding and visited Disney World. Packed in Jesse’s luggage were two suits -- a grey pin striped and a black striped one. I also bought Jesse a black straw fedora hat with a grey band. He looked fantastic when he modeled it. I quipped “Jesse, when you attend the wedding, the quests will wonder, if perhaps Justin Bieber just walked through the door.” Jesse smiled.

The wedding reception. was held at an aquarium. My grandson told me his cousin Andrea, a college student majoring in marine biology, showed him a 500-pound squid caught off the coast of Australia but now after captivity, it weighs 300 pounds. Andrea started, to give Jesse some information, but was surprised he knew so much about marine life. Jesse loves the TV shows on the science channel. And he loves to read. He’s now in second grade. Last June, Jesse showed me his first book on Scooby-Doo. He made a cover page with a picture of Scooby-Doo and printed his name on the bottom. His book contained 25 pages with a picture of Scooby-Doo on each page and he printed a sentence which told a story. Jesse told me recently “Nana, I’m going to write another book.” I advised my grandson regarding his second book “Write a story God will be proud of.”

I telephoned Jesse one day when he was in Florida. He said excitedly, “Nana, we’re just pulling into the parking lot at the Magic Kingdom!” I responded, “Say hello to Winnie the Pooh.” And then I added, “By the way, it’s my birthday.” (My 71st, to be exact. I don’t feel it as I feel like I’m in my 40s.) I then heard Jesse sing all the way from the Magic Kingdom to Somerville with all the gusto an 8-year-old could muster, “Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Nana, happy birthday to you!” Needless to say I was smiling on the other end of the phone. Jesse then said, “I love you, Nana!” I replied, “I love you too Jesse. Enjoy your day.” I never dreamed having a grandchild could bring such smiles and wonderful thoughts.

This past week as I was straightening up my desk, I came across a book, “A Grandmother’s Memories,” given to me by a friend of my daughter, Mrs. Powers, when Jesse was born. I have jotted down experiences and comments Jesse said to me during his early years when I began taking him for rides when he was about 15 months old. He dad or mom would place him in his booster seat and off we’d drive to Horn Pond to watch the ducks and white swans glide across the water. One day when we returned to Jesse’s home, his mother came down to get him. Mom held her 2-year-old son in her arms and said, “Now Jesse, say goodbye to Nana.” He smiled, waved to me and said, “Goodbye, old Nana!” and we chuckled at his comment.

Easter will be celebrated this year on April 8, and of course, children will look forward to receiving Easter bunnies and baskets filled with goodies. I always look forward to the blooming of God’s creation -- pink, yellow and red tulips and vibrant yellow forsythia bushes. As a child I always loved the colorful forsythia bushes growing around our Dent Street home in West Roxbury. At my daughter’s home, during springtime, bunnies can be seen, at times, hopping across the lawn. Gray squirrels with their bushy tails. climb up and down trees as the grass turns green and all becomes alive once again welcoming the season of spring, a gift of God’s creation.

With Easter approaching, and as a Catholic, I truly look forward to participating in Holy Week services by attending the washing of feet on Holy Thursday. Good Friday with the veneration of the cross; kissing the feet of Jesus. Holy Saturday’s service of the light. And finally Easter Sunday’s celebration of the risen Christ. The church always look so beautiful with pots of white lilies and colorful tulips and floral arrangements. Inspiring Easter music is sung to touch the soul of the congregation. Such a lovely atmosphere for Catholics to remember, reflect, and reconnect their faith in Christ. Easter is a season to relive, to begin again, to continue on with one’s Catholic faith for future generations.

Pamela McLaughlin, a resident of Somerville, is a frequent visitor to Woburn, where her grandson lives.

It makes life so much easier since I use a wheelchair. Even the dog sled races in New Hampshire were canceled this year because of the lack of snow. My 8-year-old grandson, Jesse, was disappointed.

He mentioned to me “Nana, I want to make a snowman!” During February when Jesse had his school vacation from St. Charles, he and his mom flew to Florida for 10 days. They attended a family wedding and visited Disney World. Packed in Jesse’s luggage were two suits -- a grey pin striped and a black striped one. I also bought Jesse a black straw fedora hat with a grey band. He looked fantastic when he modeled it. I quipped “Jesse, when you attend the wedding, the quests will wonder, if perhaps Justin Bieber just walked through the door.” Jesse smiled.

The wedding reception. was held at an aquarium. My grandson told me his cousin Andrea, a college student majoring in marine biology, showed him a 500-pound squid caught off the coast of Australia but now after captivity, it weighs 300 pounds. Andrea started, to give Jesse some information, but was surprised he knew so much about marine life. Jesse loves the TV shows on the science channel. And he loves to read. He’s now in second grade. Last June, Jesse showed me his first book on Scooby-Doo. He made a cover page with a picture of Scooby-Doo and printed his name on the bottom. His book contained 25 pages with a picture of Scooby-Doo on each page and he printed a sentence which told a story. Jesse told me recently “Nana, I’m going to write another book.” I advised my grandson regarding his second book “Write a story God will be proud of.”

I telephoned Jesse one day when he was in Florida. He said excitedly, “Nana, we’re just pulling into the parking lot at the Magic Kingdom!” I responded, “Say hello to Winnie the Pooh.” And then I added, “By the way, it’s my birthday.” (My 71st, to be exact. I don’t feel it as I feel like I’m in my 40s.) I then heard Jesse sing all the way from the Magic Kingdom to Somerville with all the gusto an 8-year-old could muster, “Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Nana, happy birthday to you!” Needless to say I was smiling on the other end of the phone. Jesse then said, “I love you, Nana!” I replied, “I love you too Jesse. Enjoy your day.” I never dreamed having a grandchild could bring such smiles and wonderful thoughts.

This past week as I was straightening up my desk, I came across a book, “A Grandmother’s Memories,” given to me by a friend of my daughter, Mrs. Powers, when Jesse was born. I have jotted down experiences and comments Jesse said to me during his early years when I began taking him for rides when he was about 15 months old. He dad or mom would place him in his booster seat and off we’d drive to Horn Pond to watch the ducks and white swans glide across the water. One day when we returned to Jesse’s home, his mother came down to get him. Mom held her 2-year-old son in her arms and said, “Now Jesse, say goodbye to Nana.” He smiled, waved to me and said, “Goodbye, old Nana!” and we chuckled at his comment.

Easter will be celebrated this year on April 8, and of course, children will look forward to receiving Easter bunnies and baskets filled with goodies. I always look forward to the blooming of God’s creation -- pink, yellow and red tulips and vibrant yellow forsythia bushes. As a child I always loved the colorful forsythia bushes growing around our Dent Street home in West Roxbury. At my daughter’s home, during springtime, bunnies can be seen, at times, hopping across the lawn. Gray squirrels with their bushy tails. climb up and down trees as the grass turns green and all becomes alive once again welcoming the season of spring, a gift of God’s creation.

With Easter approaching, and as a Catholic, I truly look forward to participating in Holy Week services by attending the washing of feet on Holy Thursday. Good Friday with the veneration of the cross; kissing the feet of Jesus. Holy Saturday’s service of the light. And finally Easter Sunday’s celebration of the risen Christ. The church always look so beautiful with pots of white lilies and colorful tulips and floral arrangements. Inspiring Easter music is sung to touch the soul of the congregation. Such a lovely atmosphere for Catholics to remember, reflect, and reconnect their faith in Christ. Easter is a season to relive, to begin again, to continue on with one’s Catholic faith for future generations.

Pamela McLaughlin, a resident of Somerville, is a frequent visitor to Woburn, where her grandson lives.